A diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease typically comes long after the symptoms have been showing, yet finally knowing what is behind one’s atypical behavior can be devastating to the individual and their family. Despite the fact that this is a progressive degenerative disease, some experts and those living with the Alzheimer’s, are looking for positives and…
There’s no place like home. That’s especially so for those who are suffering from cognitive impairment, says Mitchell Abrams, Chicago-area managing partner of Homewatch CareGivers. “You may have a loved one who is not with it, who might believe that Ronald Reagan is still president.
Is there a connection between heart disease and dementia? Yes. The motto is: “What’s good for your heart is good for your head.” February is a time when we focus on heart health. It’s not just important to the heart, but to other parts of the body to keep it pumping optimally. The heart pumps…
Lewy body dementia, the second most common type of progressive dementia, became a topic of conversation after the death of actor Robin Williams in 2014. Initially it was believed that Mr. Williams had Parkinson’s disease, but it was later announced that he had Lewy body dementia. While Alzheimer’s disease—the leading type of dementia—has become familiar…
This fall, thousands of people have joined walks in their North Shore Communities to help raise money for Alzheimer’s care and research. During November’s National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month, the Alzheimer’s Association is still actively raising awareness about this disease. Alzheimer’s disease is the sixth-leading cause of death in the United States and the seventh…
According to some experts, there is a global dementia epidemic. As of 2014, there were an estimated 44 million people living with dementia worldwide, Alzheimer’s Disease International reported. That number is expected to triple by 2015. September 21, 2015 is World Alzheimer’s Day during World Alzheimer’s Month. The purpose of having a designated day to…
Dr. G. Allen Power, M.D., FAACP, an internist, a geriatrician, and clinical associate professor of medicine at the University of Rochester, shared his insights on how patients in Chicago’s North Shore Suburbs select home care for family. He is the author of “Dementia Beyond Drugs: Changing the Culture of Care” and is in the film…
Brenda Avadian is an experienced family caregiver and author of nine books, including “Finding the JOY in Alzheimer’s: Caregivers Share the JOYFUL Times,” and an award-winning speaker. She is the founder of The Caregiver’s Voice, a website devoted to helping caregivers for people with dementia gain knowledge and strength with humor.
There are a lot of uncertainties after a diagnosis of dementia—for the individual living with the disease and for their family. Yet experts advise staying engaged with life during the early stages of dementia and then keeping someone with dementia engaged as the disease progresses. As a person’s ability to recognize their loved ones recedes…
Alzheimer’s disease is having a Hollywood moment and as this and other illnesses get featured in award-winning films, so too does caregiving. Even before Julianne Moore won the Oscar for best actress in the movie, “Still Alice,” the subject of the film was being used to help raise awareness for a deadly disease. Moore portrays…